Derrick Edwardson

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: United Kingdom
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Date of birth: 1926
Age at first offence: 31
Characteristics: rape, convicted rapist
Victim profile: Edwina Taylor (female, 4)
Method of murder: Strangulation
Date(s) of murder: August 31, 1957
Years active: 1957
Date of arrest: September 9, 1957 (surrenders)
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison on October 25, 1957

Case Summary

Case record

Background

Police had been searching for four-year-old Edwina Taylor since the afternoon of 31st August 1957 when she had vanished from her home in Upper Norwood.

Derrick Edwardson was a 31-year-old factory worker with a long criminal history, including a conviction for indecent assault. He lived not far from Edwina's home.

A couple of days after the child's disappearance, it was found that Edwardson had also gone missing. Police felt that the two events could be connected and searched Edwardson's ground floor flat.

The offence

In the cellar of Edwardson's flat, police found Edwina's strangled body lying on a pile of coal.

Edwina had been sexually assaulted and beaten about the face.

Investigation

In Edwardson's locker at work, police found a note in which Edwardson confessed to killing the child.

Police searched Edwardson's ground floor flat after connecting his disappearance to Edwina Taylor’s disappearance.

Arrest and surrender

Edwardson gave himself up to the authorities shortly after the grim discovery and confirmed his confession.

Trial

Edwardson pleaded guilty to murder at his trial at the Old Bailey on 25th October 1957.

Sentencing

On 25th October 1957, Edwardson was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Other details

Edwardson told police that he had bribed the child with sweets to go into his flat so that he could assault her.

He said he intended to take her home again afterwards, but he had knocked the child unconscious with an axe.

He also told police that he had then accidentally strangled the girl while trying to resuscitate her.

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